Murder of democracy, says Sonia on MPs suspension

Government wants to be the King and they expect the Opposition parties to behave like the subjects.

Highly-placed sources told India Today on Tuesday that Mahajan is likely to call a meeting of opposition leaders on Wednesday. “Even those who are boycotting the Lok Sabha are doing disservice to the nation”.

August. 4: Trinamul Congress MPs today boycotted the Lok Sabha in protest against the suspension of 25 Congress MPs but did not join the anti-government protest led by Sonia Gandhi on Parliament premises, striking a balance ahead of Mamata Banerjee’s proposed meeting with Narendra Modi next week. The former Youth Congress president used his “old setup”. The members wore black arm bands.

He said that the demand for the resignations of the then UPA ministers had been made by the BJP on the basis of investigations and the Comptroller and Auditor General’s reports.

The speaker of India’s parliament has suspended 25 opposition MPs for “causing grave disruption”.

“Down with Narendra Modi”.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said the suspension of lawmakers is “no way of resolving issues“.

“We are trying our best to sort out the issue (of deadlock)…” People want Parliament to function.

“Usually members are pardoned but they have to take the initiative”.

The latter has been demanding resignations of Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over the Lalit Modi controversy and Vyapam scam respectively. All opposition parties–with the sole exception of the Biju Janata Dal, AIADMK and TRS–did not attend the House in support of the Congress party. I have sought time from the Prime Minister. “I would urge them to look back a little at least”, he said in an apparent reference to the Emergency. He also appealed to Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to reduce the quantum of punishment for 25 Congress MPs.

“It is the duty of the government to run the house”.

The decision by Lok Sabha Speaker is “unlawful”, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said, as he asked her to reconsider the suspensions.

CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury, however, did not buy the argument, saying it was the BJP’s and the media’s creation that there were differences in the opposition ranks.

“We have not decided yet”. We are against the action. “Along with the Lok Sabha, that shows in the Rajya Sabha too”.

Mahajan ordered their suspension, first major disciplinary action in the present Lok Sabha against its members, for “persistently, wilfully obstructing” the House by displaying placards and shouting slogans.